Mail-bag crane.



No. 806,874. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. W. DAVIDSON. MAIL BAG GRANE.

APPLIOATION FILED MARS. 1905.

2 SHEETS-BHBET l.

WTVESSES: /NI/ENTO PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

W. DAVIDSON.

MAIL BAG CRANE.

APPLIOAATION PILED MAR. a, 1905 2 SEEETS-SHBBT 2.

W/TNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAlL-BAG CRAN.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 3, 1905. Serial. No. 248.363.

To all whom it may an worn,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DAvIDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Mail- Bag Crane, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mail-bag cranes in which avertical post works in conjunction with an arm pivoted to the top of-said post and used to support a mail-bag; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a mail-bag crane with all of the framework placed far enough from the track that no one can come in contact With said frame while passing it on a moving engine or car; second, to provide a mail-crane that can be easily operated and, third, a crane that can be cheaply constructed. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is avertical section of the entire mail-crane and the end of a car; Fig. 2, an

enlarged View of clamps 6 and 14, which hold the rings 8 and 13, which are'fastened to the ends of mail-bag 10. Fig. 3 is a sectional i view of clamp 14. Fig. 4 is a View of the rings 8 and 13, which are fastened to the ends of mail-bag 10 and held by clamps 6 and 14.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The post 23, arm -20, cap 21, and shelf 26 constitute the framework of the mail-crane. Arm 20 is pivoted to the top of post 23 at 22 and willdrop back in avertical position when not engaged to hold mail-'bag 10. Post 23 is placed far enough from the track that no one can come in contact with it while passing it on an engine or car, and the said post is high enough that no one can come incontact with arm 20 when passing said arm on an engine or car. The top end of connection 1 is fastened to the arm 20 at 19, and clamp 6 is fastened to the lower end of connection 1. Connection 1 is just long enough to hold the top end of mail-bag 10 in position to be caught bya bag-catcher on a moving train. The botused to go up post 23 to get on shelf 26 to hang mail-bag 10 onto clamp 6.

Clamps 6 and 14 are made of 'steel and are e& ible, so as to -allow the rings 8 and 13 to slide out of the grooves 7 and 12 when mail- 'bag 10 is caught. The two lower jaws of clamp 6 and the two upper jaws of clamp 14 have grooves cut in them, so as to allow rings 8 and 13 to fit in these grooves. The said grooves are curved towardeach other, so as to form a shoulder for the rings 8 and 13 to rest on. Bolt 5 and nut'4 in the top jaws of clamp 6 are used to adjust the tension of the clamp 6. Now as clamp 6 has to support the weight of mail-bag 10 and as the weight of the said bag 10 varies I run the nut 4 up and bring the lower jaws 7 close together to hold a heavy bag and let them out for a light bag; ,but as the clamp 14 is to hold the lower end of mail-bag 10 in position it is only necessary to have the tension of clamp 14 just great enough to hold the lower end of'said bag 10.

Gap 21 is a cast-iron cap which fits over the top of post 23. The said cap 21 has'jaws to it, and arm 20, which is pivoted to cap 21 at point 22, works between the said jaws to said cap 21. Now as post 23 is placed far enough from the track that no one can come in contact with the said post 23 when passing the said post on a car or engine and the said post 23 is high enough that no one can come in contact with arm 20, which is pivoted to the top of said post 23, when passing the said post 23 and arm 20 on a car or engine, then there is no danger of being killed or hurt by this mailcrane, as is so often the case with the cranes now in use.

To hang up a mail-bag, loosen connection 17 from 18 and place the ring 13 in the clamp 14 by allowing the said ring 13 to drop down into the grooves 12 in the said clamp 14. Then go up post 23 onto shelf 26 and catch hold of clamp 6 and pull down the said clamp 6 and arm 20. Then put ring 8 into clamp 6 by al` lowing the said ring 8 to drop down into the groove 7. Then go down post 23 and catch hold of connection 17 and pull down until mail-bag 10 and connections 1 and 17 are tight. Then fasten connection 17 to 18. The mail-bag is then in position to be caught'by a catcher on a moving train.

I am aware that prior to my invention mailcranes have been invented With a post and arms to hold a mail-bag to be caught by a cat'cher on a moving train. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combinationinamail-bagcrane comprising a Vertical post, a metallic cap on top of IIO said post, said cap having vertical jaws, an arm pivoted between said jaws, the said arm rotating in a vertical plane, the end of said arm, next to the track, having a flexible connection extending down a distance suitable to hold the top end of a mail-bag in position to be caught by a catcher on a passing train, the lower end of the said fieXible connection having an adjustable spring clamp, the said spring-clamp having jaws, the said jaws having grooves suitable to receive and hold the ring on a mail-bag, the said spring-clamp has an adjustable bolt and nut, said bolt and nut being used to adjust the spring-clamp to suit the weight of the mail-bag that the said adjustable spring-clamp is to hold, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a nail-bagcrane comprising a Vertical post, a metallic cap on top of said post, said metallic cap having vertical jaws, an arm pivoted between said jaws, the said arm rotating in a vertical plane, a flexible connection extending down from the said arm a distance suitable to hold the top end of a mail-bag in position to be caught by a catcher on a passing train, the lower end of said flexible connection having an adjustable springclamp, `the said adjustable spring-clamp having jaws, said jaws having grooves suitable to receive and hold the ring on a mail-bag, the

said adjustable spring-clamp has a bolt and' nut, said bolt and nut being used to adjust the said adjustable spring-clamp to suit the weight of the mail-bag that said adjustable springclamp is to hold, the said vertical post has steps and a shelf, the said shelf being used to stand upon while hanging mail-bag to the said ad justable spring-clamp, the said vertical post being located far enough from the track that no one can come in contact with said post while passing the said post on a car or engine, the said post is high enough that no one can come in contact with the said arm which is pivoted to the top of said post, while passing the said arm and post on a car or engine, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a mail-bag crane comprising a vertical post, a Inetallic cap on top of said post, said metallic cap having vertical jaws, an arin pivoted between said jaws, said arm rotating in a vertical plane, a fiexible connection and an adjnstable spring-clarnp connected to the said arin, the said fiexible connection and adjustable springclannp being used to hold the top end of a mail-bag, a lower fiexible connection extending up from the ground a distance suitable to hold the lower end of a mail-bag in position to be caught by a catcher on a passing train, the top end of the said lower fiexible connection having a spring-clamp With a fixed tension, the said spring-clamp having jaws and grooves within said jaws, the said grooves being used to receive and hold the ring on the lower end of a mail-bag, the said top fiexible connection and the lower flexible connection being of such material and size as is most likely not to hurt any person in case the said person should come in contact with the said connections when passing the said connections on a car or engine, the said post and arm being far enough from the track that no one can hit the said post or arrn while passing the said post or arm on a car or engine, substantially as set forth.

` 4. The conbination in amail-bagcrane comprising a vertical post, a metallic cap on top of said post, said cap having vertical jaws, an arm pivoted between said jaws, said arm rotating in a vertical plane, a fiexible connection fastened to the said arm, an adjustable spring-clarnp on the flexible connection, the' said spring-clanp having jaws there being grooves within said jaws, the said grooves being suitable to receive and hold the ring on the end of a mail-bag, a lower fiexible connection extendng up from the ground a distance suitable to hold the lower end of a mailbag in position to be caught by a catcher on a passing train, the lower flexible connection having a spring-clamp with a .fixed tension, the said spring-clamp having jaws and grooves within said jaws, the said grooves being suitable to receive and hold the ring on the lower end of a mail-bag, a horizontal connection running from the top of the lower fiexible connection over to the said vertical post, the said horizontal connection keeping the lower flexible connection and clamp oti of the track when not in use and the said postand arrn are placed far enough from the track that no person can hit the said post or arm while passing the said arrn or post on a car or engine, substantially as set forth.

I hereunto set my hand in the presence of.

two subscribing witnesses.

VVILLIAM DAVIDSON.

VVitnesses:

W. I. BENHAM, W. I. VVYMAN.

IOO 

